State GOP leader’s remarks decried

Democrats seized yesterday on recent remarks by the state Republican Party chairman to brand Republicans as insensitive to rural Virginians.

In a conference call with reporters, Democratic gubernatorial nominee R. Creigh Deeds and the state Democratic Party chairman, C. Richard Cranwell, called on Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell to apologize for Pat Mullins' remarks.

Speaking to Republicans from Highland and Bath counties last Thursday, Mullins was quoted as saying that a Wise County insurance office could not recruit employees from a nearby community college because "they preferred to be on welfare."

Jody Wagner, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said her opponent, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, should denounce Mullins' remarks.

In reply, former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore and his twin brother, Del. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Scott, both of whom hail from Southwest Virginia, said Democrats are attempting "to prey on the economic fears people have in order to score political points."

Mullins was suggesting that job availability is so poor in those parts of the state that welfare is more attractive "in some cases," they said.

"The people from our part of the state work hard and want good jobs," they said.

The Kilgores went on to criticize Deeds for supporting Democratic policies that they said would stifle job creation.

Deeds criticized McDonnell for supporting the economic policies of then-President George W. Bush. Those policies led to the current recession, he said.

McDonnell has said Bush's tax-cut policies spurred economic growth for several years, but overheated the economy.

Deeds grew up in and lives in rural Bath County. Bolling also has rural roots.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .